US3810423A — Color bar printer

Claim 1

Independent Claim 349 words

In combination a. a record medium having prerecorded adjacent and alternating first and second characteristically different indicia thereon: b. a recorder responsive to a binary signal for recording on said medium a transition code manifesting said binary code, said transition code including first, second and third characteristically different indicia where transitions from first to second, from second to third and from third to first indicium represent one binary value and transitions from third to second, from second to first and from first to third indicium represent a second binary value, said recorder comprising: c. single means positioned adjacent said record medium for recording, during a recording operation, said third characteristically different indicium over each of one or the other of said prerecorded first and second characteristically different indicium on said record medium in response to the occurrence of a record signal, said means for recording being aligned with said medium so that an entire one of said prerecorded first and second indicium is overrecorded with said third indicium upon the occurrence of said record signal; d. means sensing the prerecorded indicia on said record medium for providing a first indicium signal indicating said first prerecorded indicium is aligned with said means for recording and a second indicium signal indicating said second prerecorded indicium is aligned with said means for recording; e. means for moving said medium in response to a move signal, said medium being moved the amount necessary to align the next adjacent prerecorded indicium with said means for printing; and control means responsive to said binary signal and said first and second indicium signals to provide a first move signal to align, with the recording means, the next adjacent first prerecorded indicium which is to be overrecorded with said third indicium in accordance with said transition code, a second move signal to align the next adjacent second prerecorded indicium which is to be overrecorded with said third indicium in accordance with said transition code and a record signal to operate said recording means to record said third indicium over one of said first and second prerecorded indicium.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 349 words

In combination a. a record medium having prerecorded adjacent and alternating first and second characteristically different indicia thereon: b. a recorder responsive to a binary signal for recording on said medium a transition code manifesting said binary code, said transition code including first, second and third characteristically different indicia where transitions from first to second, from second to third and from third to first indicium represent one binary value and transitions from third to second, from second to first and from first to third indicium represent a second binary value, said recorder comprising: c. single means positioned adjacent said record medium for recording, during a recording operation, said third characteristically different indicium over each of one or the other of said prerecorded first and second characteristically different indicium on said record medium in response to the occurrence of a record signal, said means for recording being aligned with said medium so that an entire one of said prerecorded first and second indicium is overrecorded with said third indicium upon the occurrence of said record signal; d. means sensing the prerecorded indicia on said record medium for providing a first indicium signal indicating said first prerecorded indicium is aligned with said means for recording and a second indicium signal indicating said second prerecorded indicium is aligned with said means for recording; e. means for moving said medium in response to a move signal, said medium being moved the amount necessary to align the next adjacent prerecorded indicium with said means for printing; and control means responsive to said binary signal and said first and second indicium signals to provide a first move signal to align, with the recording means, the next adjacent first prerecorded indicium which is to be overrecorded with said third indicium in accordance with said transition code, a second move signal to align the next adjacent second prerecorded indicium which is to be overrecorded with said third indicium in accordance with said transition code and a record signal to operate said recording means to record said third indicium over one of said first and second prerecorded indicium.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 57 words

The invention according to claim 1: wherein said moving means moves said medium in a given direction; wherein each of said prerecorded indicia has a given width along a line parallel to said given direction; and wherein said moving means moves said medium an amount equal to said given width upon the occurrence of each move signal.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 71 words

The invention according to claim 2 wherein said control means includes a binary code to indicia transition code converter means responsive to said binary code for providing a signal indicating the sequence of said first, second and third indicia which manifest said binary code, and further includes gating means responsive to said converter means signal and said first and second prerecorded indicium signal for providing said record and said move signals.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 93 words

The invention according to claim 3: wherein a first portion of said gating means provides one of three signals for each binary value to be recorded, said three signals respectively indicating whether only a move signal is to be provided, whether a record signal followed by a move signal is to be provided or whether a record signal followed by two move signals is to be provided; and wherein a second portion of said logic means responds to the provided one of said three signals to provide said indicated record and move signals.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 391 words

In combination, a. a record medium having preprinted thereon a plurality of adjacent bars of first and second colors in such a manner that the first and second color bars alternate; b. a color bar printer responsive to a binary signal for printing on said record medium a bar transition code manifesting said binary signal in which each bar is one of three colors, each of said bars of said transition code being adjacent to one another along a given direction, the colors of said bars being arranged so that transitions from a first to a second color, from said second to a third color, or from said third to said first color represent a first binary value, and transitions from said third to said second color, from said second to said first color and from said first to said third color represent a second binary value, said printer comprising: c. a single printing station for printing a bar of said third color on said record medium in response to a print signal applied thereto, said printing station being aligned with respect to said medium so that said third color is printed entirely over a given one or the other of said preprinted first or second color bars; d. detector means mounted adjacent said printing station for sensing on said medium said first and second color bars to provide a first color signal indicating said printing station is then aligned with a preprinted bar of said first color and a second color signal indicating said printing station is then aligned with a bar of said second color; e. means for moving said record medium in response to a move signal an amount necessary to align said printing station with the preprinted bar of said medium adjacent to said given preprinted bar; and f. logic means responsive to said binary signal and said first and second color signals to provide a first move signal to align, with said printing station, the next adjacent first preprinted color bar which is to be overrecorded with said third color bar in accordance with said transition code, a second move signal to align, with said printing station, the next adjacent second preprinted color bar which is to be overrecorded with said third color bar in accordance with said transition code, and to provide said print signal.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 391 words

In combination, a. a record medium having preprinted thereon a plurality of adjacent bars of first and second colors in such a manner that the first and second color bars alternate; b. a color bar printer responsive to a binary signal for printing on said record medium a bar transition code manifesting said binary signal in which each bar is one of three colors, each of said bars of said transition code being adjacent to one another along a given direction, the colors of said bars being arranged so that transitions from a first to a second color, from said second to a third color, or from said third to said first color represent a first binary value, and transitions from said third to said second color, from said second to said first color and from said first to said third color represent a second binary value, said printer comprising: c. a single printing station for printing a bar of said third color on said record medium in response to a print signal applied thereto, said printing station being aligned with respect to said medium so that said third color is printed entirely over a given one or the other of said preprinted first or second color bars; d. detector means mounted adjacent said printing station for sensing on said medium said first and second color bars to provide a first color signal indicating said printing station is then aligned with a preprinted bar of said first color and a second color signal indicating said printing station is then aligned with a bar of said second color; e. means for moving said record medium in response to a move signal an amount necessary to align said printing station with the preprinted bar of said medium adjacent to said given preprinted bar; and f. logic means responsive to said binary signal and said first and second color signals to provide a first move signal to align, with said printing station, the next adjacent first preprinted color bar which is to be overrecorded with said third color bar in accordance with said transition code, a second move signal to align, with said printing station, the next adjacent second preprinted color bar which is to be overrecorded with said third color bar in accordance with said transition code, and to provide said print signal.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 58 words

The invention according to claim 5: wherein said moving means moves said medium in a given direction; wherein each of said prerecorded color bars has a given width along a line parallel to said given direction; and wherein said moving means moves said medium an amount equal to said given width upon the occurrence of each move signal.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 72 words

The invention according to claim 6 wherein said printing station includes an inked transfer ribbon having ink of said third color on at least one side thereof, with said ink side being adjacent to said medium and print hammer means which in response to said print signal causes said ribbon to contact said medium at said given preprinted bar whereby the ink on said ribbon is transferred to said given preprinted bar.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 45 words

The invention according to claim 7: wherein said printing station includes means to move said ribbon at least the distance of said given width upon command of a ribbon move signal; and wherein said logic means provides said ribbon move signal after each print signal.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 78 words

The invention according to claim 8: wherein said logic means includes a binary to color bar converter means responsive to said binary signal for providing a signal indicating the sequence of said first, second and third colors which manifest said binary code; and wherein said logic means further includes gating means responsive to said converter means signal and said medium color signal for providing said print signal, said first and second move signals and said ribbon move signal.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 136 words

The invention according to claim 9 wherein said gating means includes a function decoding portion and a signal providing portion, said function decoding portion providing one of three operating signals each time a preprinted bar becomes aligned with said printing station, a first operating signal indicating that only a first and second mOve signal is to be provided, a second operating signal indicating that a print signal, a ribbon move signal and one first and second move signal are to be provided, and a third operating signal indicating that a print signal, a ribbon move signal and two successive first and second move signals are to be provided, and said signal providing portion responding to said signal provided by said function decoding portion by providing the indicated print, first and second move and ribbon move signals.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 112 words

The invention according to claim 10: wherein said first one of said operating signals is provided whenever said medium color signal and the signal from said binary to color bar code converter means indicate the same color; wherein said second one of said three operating signals is provided whenever said third color is to be printed; and wherein said third one of said three operating signals is provided whenever said binary to code converter means signal indicates one of said first or second colors is to be printed and said medium color signal indicates said printing station is aligned with a bar of the other one of said first and second colors.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1977-05-13	1977-11-12	1978-05-14	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1981-05-13	1981-11-12	1982-05-14	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1985-05-13	1985-11-12	1986-05-14	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Color bar printer

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag